A firefighter ignites prescribed fire in May along Forest Road 48, south of Rock Creek Reservoir.
Photo courtesy Mt. Hood National ForestWASCO CO. — Fire personnel on the Barlow Ranger District plan to burn up to 427 acres in Mt. Hood National Forest this fall. Burning operations were expected to continue through the next few weeks if weather and moisture levels remain favorable.
“With rain and cold weather arriving, we’re seeing conditions that are suitable to begin controlled burns that aren’t possible for most of the year,” said Rick Lancaster, east zone fuels specialist.
The planned burns are in the South Rock and Rocky 79 prescribed fire units, located about three miles southwest of Pine Hollow and five miles west of Wamic. These lands are within the footprint of the Central Wasco County All Lands Joint Chief Project, said a press release.
Prescribed burning in this area will improve landscape resilience to disease and fire as well as increase overall forest health and wildlife habitat.
Firefighters successfully burned 180 acres in the South Rock unit last spring and hope to complete the remaining 220 acres this fall. Rocky 79 will be the first prescribed fire unit to receive treatment as part of the Rocky Restoration Project.
“All prescribed fires are carefully considered based on many factors, including the weather, before and during ignitions,” said Lancaster. “Our fire personnel will patrol the burn area and monitor conditions until the fire is officially declared out.”
Mt. Hood National Forest is a national priority landscape, selected as part of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, which works to increase fuels treatments, prepare communities for wildfire, and support post-fire recovery work. This designation will help the Forest reduce the risk of fire impacts to nearby communities. The planned prescribed burns are strategically located in wildland-urban interface areas to meet these goals.
Access to roads within the burn perimeter may be temporarily restricted while the burn is active. Smoke may be visible in the vicinity during the burn and for a few days afterward. If smoke drifts onto the road, drivers should turn on headlights and slow down.
For information about smoke and health, read the Oregon Health Authority recommendations (oregon.gov/oha/Pages/index.aspx).
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